Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-05) on Wednesday applauded the Federal Communications Commission's approval of Globalstar's modified plan to establish a new wireless network.

A previous Globalstar proposal may have interrupted Bluetooth and wireless devices using the same bandwidth, including hearing aids.

The amended plan will significantly lessen the potential for interference, ensuring individuals with hearing loss can use the wireless features of their hearing devices without interruption.

“I commend the FCC and Globalstar for recognizing that Americans with hearing loss should not have to face a disruption in their hearing devices,” said Thompson. “Innovation drives our economy, but it should not come at the expense of the health and well-being of the public. This modified plan is a strong compromise to allow the development of new technology without posing a risk to Americans with hearing impairments.”

Andrew Bopp, executive director of Hearing Industries Association, noted that rapid advances in wireless technology have enabled people with hearing loss to connect directly through their hearing aids to the telephone, music players, television and other devices. 

He added, “HIA deeply appreciates the efforts of Rep. Thompson to insure that new interference issues do not emerge to prevent people from accessing these features.”

As co-chair of the Congressional Hearing Caucus, Thompson sent a letter to Chairman Tom Wheeler of the FCC in April of 2016, expressing concerns about the impact Globalstar's previous proposal may have had on people with hearing loss.

In his letter, Thompson requested that the FCC verify that any proposals would not harm the availability of Bluetooth or similar features for hearing assistance devices.

Furthermore, Thompson called for testing of the proposed technology to determine its viability. 

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On the early morning of Dec. 29, 2016, Denis passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife Dara, his son Ross, and his lifelong friend Lorna, and died bathed in their love. He was 59 years old at the time of his death.

Denis was a native of San Francisco, Calif., born there on Feb. 28, 1957, at 6:05 a.m. He was the first child of Rita Ross Cashman and Michael Denis Cashman, and was born on his mother’s birthday.

Denis was raised in the Catholic faith, and attended parochial schools his whole life. He attended St. Finn Barr Grammar School and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1975. He then went on to obtain a Bachelors of Arts from USF College, and proceeded to attend USF Law School. He received his Juris Doctorate from USF Law School in 1983.

Denis devoted his life to public service, first as a San Francisco Police officer, where he worked for eight years including as an undercover vice officer, then as a district attorney in Marin and San Francisco counties.

After spending over 20 years protecting the public as a district attorney, he retired and opened a private practice defending the accused. He was known universally as a fair, compassionate attorney, who really understood people and what justice truly meant. Denis won the respect of his fellow district attorneys, the defense bar, the bench and the civil attorneys alike.

Denis was also passionate about keeping himself informed, and kept abreast of current events. He spent hours listening to political talk shows, with no particular slant, wanting to hear both sides on any issue before taking a position.

Due in part to his interest in politics, and in part to his thirst for justice, Denis became involved in the association for county attorneys. He was a tireless union advocate and spent hours in negotiations, fighting to, and succeeding in, gaining better wages and benefits for his fellow prosecutors.

Denis had a razor sharp mind, and was known for his incredible grasp of trivia. Rarely was he stumped by any trivia questions, and won many a Trivial Pursuit game, a beloved pastime. He also was a fierce bocce ball player, and played competitively for years. He even installed a bocce ball court at his home in Lake County.

Denis was preceded in death by his parents, Rita Ross Cashman and Michael Denis Cashman.

Denis is survived by his devoted and devastated wife of 31 years, Dara Cashman, and his equally devoted and devastated son Ross Tyler Cashman. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Kevin and Melissa Cashman, his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Patrick Daniels, and his nieces and nephews Allie Cashman, Katie Cashman, Dylan Cashman, Gabrielle Daniels, Joey Daniels, and Jilly Daniels. He is also survived by his in-laws, Bill and Lorna Lawver, who were his partners in so many ventures and adventures.

A funeral service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at Upper Lake Cemetery.

Denis had a special fondness for the work that the Guide Dogs For the Blind Foundation do, so donations to that foundation in his name would be appreciated. In addition, cancer has devastated Denis’ family, so donations in his name to the American Cancer Society would also be welcomed.

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Mendocino National Forest District officials have implemented several off-highway vehicle (OHV) trail closures on the Grindstone Ranger District until the trails can be repaired.

The trails are located south of the Summit Springs Trailhead and south of Letts Lake.

Trails included in the order are 85311, 85312, 85345, 85354 and 85356.

Officials deemed this closure necessary for resource protection until treads and drainage structures are repaired to withstand additional OHV traffic.

The closure may remain in effect until Jan. 2, 2018.

Forest Order No. 08-17-03 and the associated map are posted on the forest website at http://tinyurl.com/z2c6asr .

For more information about the Mendocino National Forest please check the forest Web site https://www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino , Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MendocinoNF/ or Twitter @MendocinoNF.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Gene H. Hughes passed away peacefully at home in Kelseyville on Dec. 31, 2016.

Gene is survived by his wife of 46 years, June "Gunn" Hughes; stepchildren, Marketta Kent, Margo Jay, Mark Olsen, Marn Olsen, Marr Olsen and Mart Clupper; niece, Lorrie Behrens; nephews, Paul Hughes, Bob Hughes, Jeff Hughes, Don Hughes and Steve Hughes; grandchildren, Julie Olsen, Ashley Olsen, Amber Olsen, Amanda Olsen, Ryan Jay, Tonya Jay, Jodi Heilman, Heidi Jay, Gunner Olsen, Tanner Olsen, Skyler Olsen, Chad Roughton and Chelsey Tonoai.

He is predeceased by his parents, Orville and Belva Hughes; brothers, Maynard Hughes, Jim Hughes, Foster Hughes and Don Hughes; and his son, Phil Hughes.

Gene was born in Kelseyville on May 4, 1927, and attended Kelseyville Elementary School before his family moved to Napa, where he graduated from Napa High School.

He was a Merchant Marine during World War II. After the war, he became a carpenter and later a building contractor. He finished his career as an accomplished builder of fine homes in Lake County.

Gene was an avid fisherman and hunter. He traveled most of the country and many parts of the world. He lived a fulfilled life with many lifelong friends and family who loved him dearly.

Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary, 1625 N. High St. in Lakeport, on Thursday, Jan. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m.

A graveside funeral service will be held at Kelseyville Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow at the family home.

For more information please contact Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Art Center, or MAC, invites everyone to get funky and join them on Saturday, Jan. 7, for a celebration of the life and work of the great late James Brown.

Brown passed on Dec. 25, 2006.

Dance in the new year with soul with JB’s music in the front of the house, and videos of his extraordinary performances in the back. 

There is a $5 cover fee and wine and beer will be for sale.

Doors open at 7 p.m. The dance starts at 7:30 p.m., and all proceeds benefit the Middletown Art Center.

“By coming, you are not only celebrating the life and work of a great artist, but also supporting the MAC venue and the growing Arts and Culture scene in Lake County,” said Lisa Kaplan, MAC director.

The Middletown Art Center is a nonprofit arts organization that continues to be dedicated to promoting community and economic recovery in south Lake County after the 2015 fires, through the arts, culture, and community events.

Currently on view is the Members Holiday Show, until Jan. 22, an exhibit of variety and curatorial flow showcasing MAC member artists’ work.

“Driven to Abstraction” is MAC’s next show with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan 28. A Call for Work is in process and submissions are due Jan. 10.

To learn about submitting work to MAC for consideration, visit middletownartcenter.org/artists.html .

Remember to drop by MAC to enjoy work by contemporary Lake County Artists. The MAC Gallery is open Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.

MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175, at the junction of Highways 29 and 175 in Middletown and offers an array of memberships, child and adult classes in the arts, performance opportunities and a new Cinema Club. 

When you support MAC through membership, donations or purchases of art work, you help support a local creative community and by extension our local economy.

Learn more, join as a member or make a tax deductible contribution at www.middletownartcenter.org , call 707-809-8118 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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Hindus are urging all 1,025 public school districts of California to declare an official holiday on Diwali, the most popular of their festivals.
 
They are also urging California’s all 1,222 charter schools, all about 3,170 private schools and all independent schools also to adopt Diwali as an official holiday on their 2017-18 school year calendars.
 
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement this week, pointed out that it would be a step in the positive direction in view of presence of a substantial number of Hindu students at schools around the state, as it was important to meet the religious and spiritual needs of these pupils. Some school districts in New York, New Jersey and Maryland had reportedly already declared Diwali as a holiday.
 
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, indicated that schools should make efforts to accommodate the religious requirements of Hindu students and show respect to their faith by not conducting regular business and scheduling classes on Diwali.

“We did not want our students to be put at an unnecessary disadvantage for missing tests/examinations/papers, assignments, class work, etc.; by taking a day-off to observe Diwali,” Zed said.
 
“If California schools stayed closed on other religious holidays, why not Diwali?” Zed asked. “Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion.”
 
Zed suggested all California schools to seriously look into declaring Diwali as an official holiday, thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education.

Zed noted that awareness about other religions thus created by such holidays like Diwali would make California students well-nurtured, well-balanced and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.
 
He urged Gov. Jerry Brown, California State Board of Education President Dr. Michael Kirst, California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, California School Boards Association CEO Vernon M. Billy, California Charter Schools Association President Jed Wallace, California Association of Private School Organizations President Kevin Baxter and California Association of Independent Schools Executive Director James McManus to work toward adding Diwali as an official holiday in all the public, charter, private and independent schools of the state.
 
Zed said that Hinduism is rich in festivals and religious festivals are very dear and sacred to Hindus.

Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Besides Hindus, Sikhs and Jains and some Buddhists also celebrate Diwali, which falls on Oct. 19 in 2017.
 
Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world with about one billion adherents and moksh, or liberation, is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in the United States.

In the wireless technology world, 2016 will go down as the year we learned that Siri has competition from Alexa and that saying “OK Google” can help us order a pizza.

Cars are driving themselves down the road, and we can easily control our appliances, coffee makers and lights from our smartphones.

In 2016, technologies such as 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) took significant steps forward, and more and more smartphone functionality is available on our wrists.

Where will wireless technology take us in 2017? Jay Ellison, executive vice president of operations for U.S. Cellular, said that 2017 will be the year that California residents will regularly experience IoT at home and at work, and that technology will be more ingrained in our lives than ever before.

“There have been a lot of buzzwords in the wireless world over the years, and 2017 may be the year that they move from buzzy to reality,” Ellison said. “It all starts with the smartphone in our hands, and that small device can control almost anything that has an on/off switch. It is really fun and exciting to see how previously difficult or annoying jobs can be handled with the push of a button, and I can’t wait to see what is next on the horizon.”

Ellison anticipates three trends in the wireless industry that you may experience in 2017.

1. Connected homes

The promise of The Internet of Things (IoT) has now come to a new mass market: the connected home. In the span of a few short years, connected devices have entered the homes of millions of Americans, and these devices are now poised for a new wave of growth. We now have connected lightbulbs, connected scales, connected thermostats, connected refrigerators, connected pet dishes, connected grills, connected toasters, and the list goes on.

These “smart” home appliances and devices can be accessed and controlled from any location from a smartphone or tablet, providing us with informative data or making daily tasks simpler and faster. With the rise of affordable IoT devices, the worldwide smart home market is forecast to grow to $43 billion in 2020, from $15.6 billion in 2016, according to Statista.

“Technology is making it easier than ever to stay connected to your home no matter where you are,” said Ellison. “While the smartphone is the centerpiece of it all, we have seen more and more people coming in to our stores and purchasing these IoT devices to see how useful they can be in their daily life.”

2. The business case for drones

The year 2017 will be when drones go beyond recreational use and start being used by a wide range of businesses. We have seen many business sectors be early adopters of drone technology, and it is expected that more businesses will use the technology to simplify their operations.

Some of the common industries where we already see drone use are in agriculture, oil and gas utilities, mining and surveying, but the possibilities are endless. They can also be used in humanitarian efforts to deliver goods to or assess areas that have been hit by natural disasters. In the wireless industry, they could be used to check a damaged tower or monitor a tower in a remote location that is difficult to access.

Many smaller drones can be controlled by a smartphone or tablet application, and the data that can be gathered can be helpful for businesses of all sizes. For those looking to get started using the technology, it is encouraged that you visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/ to learn the FAA regulations.

3. Virtual reality becomes a reality for businesses

Virtual Reality (VR) has been around for many years, but it seems to have finally found its place in the market and is here to stay for 2017 and beyond.

While it has become popular in video games and other forms of entertainment, the possibilities for it to be used in business are growing at an increasingly fast rate.

Some estimates put the market for VR at $150 billion within four years, and as the technology becomes more affordable for more people, that may be a conservative estimate.

From virtual meetings to tourism to healthcare, VR has the potential to impact the business world in the very near future.

Architects can make complex drawings in 3D and immerse their clients in what the building will look like. Hundreds of medical students can shadow a surgeon during a procedure no matter where they are, and realtors can take potential home buyers through a virtual tour of homes for sale in a certain area. The money savings VR can bring to these business sectors will be substantial.

As the barriers continue to be lowered for people to try out VR in their home and business life, more benefits will emerge.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Fort Bragg Center for Arts' Coast Chamber Concerts will host pianist  Carolyn Steinbuck on Sunday, Jan. 15.

The concert will take place at 3 p.m. at Preston Hall, 44867 Main St. in Mendocino.

Steinbuck will perform the Schubert “B flat Sonata.”

She will be joined by cellist Marcia Sloane and clarinetist Eric Kritz for two trios: “Fantasy Trio” by Muczynski and the “Brahms Trio in A minor.”

Tickets are $20 in advance at Harvest Market, Fort Bragg, and at Out of this World, Mendocino. They are also available at the the door for $25.

For additional information call 707937-1018 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

FORT BRAGG, Calif. – The Jackson Demonstration State Forest Advisory Group meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 9.

Anyone wishing to participate will meet at 1 p.m. at the Fort Bragg Library, located at 499 East Laurel Street in Fort Bragg. 

This meeting is open to the public and public attendance is encouraged.

The meeting agenda is posted at http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_stateforests_jackson.php .

If anyone has any questions regarding the meeting or about Jackson Demonstration State Forest in general, please call 707-964-5674.